cowboysoultaker

I was losing my mind last night. between my post here (which ended up being the proverbial tip to the iceberg) and my huge blow up on my myspace blog, I decided it'd be a good night to drink. Well, I post here, because I get some sense of anonymity back. And on myspace, nobody goes on there anymore so it's pretty safe too. Safe, yet might get views. but anyway, bad idea. I was actually starting to feel better (I wouldn't attribute it to the booze per se) but I lost track of my drinking. I do that when I drink alone, which I probably shouldn't do again.

I had about half one of those plastic bottles of peppermint schnapps (I don't know if those are fifths or not). I killed off my kettle one vodka after that, it was about 4 inches from the bottom. Ah, so if killing schnapps wasn't bad enough, putting heavier liquor on top of that, then the final straw, Skol vodka, which is just crap. I figured I wouldn't notice it at where I was, which should have been a sign there. but I had a couple of those and felt okay for a bit, in retrospect I think the room was spinning. Then the nausea, then the puking, etc. i had the sound too low on the T.V. because I was listening to Radiohead and Ghost in the Shell Stand Alone Complex, but I can remember what was on T.V.

I was bawling most of the evening throughout the drinking. which would have been another indicator.

I know that I don't deserve to complain but I still do it and so does everyone else. And quite frankly the scales are tipped pretty heavy to not enjoying life. Everyone puts up with a certain amount of crap to get to the good parts of life. But the goods aren't real good and the bads aren't terrible but are plenty. I can't really die either, and I gotta keep my head above the waves to at least keep my family out of my mess, since my 'rents have cosigned a few things.

I complain about the same stuff every time and I'm sure it bugs the hell out of people if they even still listen, and I know it bugs the hell out of me. I'm starting to think about going back to school, but That could be the final nail to my coffin. My loans' interest period is coming up soon as well, which means my payments for Student Loans go back to 500 some dollars.

So I guess it comes down to getting two jobs. I don't know where to beign on that, cuz I've been on the sites and around town and there is not much shakin'.

i don't know what to do to better my life. I have these brainstorms and try to put it into action, try to change my attitude but it only lasts a little while. I wish there was just some good news for my future.

I might have reviewed an anime called Burst Angel a while back. It was mediocre at best, along the same lines as Kiddy Grade (KG being an okay to good anime). I've been reading the manga through one of the sites I frequent, and it is far superior to the anime in every way.

edit: The manga ends where the anime picks up...so they're not different stories.

In fact, I think most manga is better then it's anime counter part. Naruto, Bleach and Hellsing sticking out the most in my mind. Hellsing would be better if they took the music director from the original series and used him in Hellsing Ultimate. Though I do still enjoy HU.

I also watched the good, the bad, the ugly today. I've owned it for a couple years, but i just now took it out of the shrink wrap. "There are two kinds of people in the world, my friend. Those with loaded guns and those who dig."

It gets really lonely here. I am not sure what to do about it. It seems all the online folk I used to talk to are busy with life or "better halfs". And I catch myself not being more self reliant. It's hard to know what to do for my next step in life, I don't really see any stepping stones connecting the shorelines. I've been listening to radiohead and Stand Alone Complex music for the past few days. But I've no right to complain, there are plenty of worse things I could be in.

Making pasta from scratch is about the only thing I enjoy right now. I guess it's nice to have a hobby but I thought my life would amount to more than this.

This was a facebook post (you are welcome to add me, my name is Steven Vandre) so some of it may seem out of place.

I can never remember how to LJ cut. there is some christian references in it, if that isn't your bag, you may not want to read it.

-------

I imagine if anyone of the theoretical people I'm writing this to, actually read this, then you probably keep up with my status's somewhat and know I am a person who likes his Street Fighter 4. I am bad at it, compared to other people, but I still get back in there.

Little known fact, though I was into Shuri Ryu karate (which I was honored to train in the same dojo as Hanshi Bowles) I am a big fan of Jeet Kune Do. I have been since I loved Cowboy Bebop, and the more I knew about it the more I liked. The Tao of Jeet Kune Do, by Bruce Lee is a great book, one day maybe I will own it.

But only recently have I actually gotten into some of his philosophy. It's the right amount of abstract without departing too far from the tangible. Picks at my brain a bit. Like any kernel of wisdom i encounter, I kind of tuck these snipets under my cap and continue on, then eventually something clicks.

I was in church today, and the topic was Christ's baptism. It was kind of a big deal, that 4 guys wrote about. The message of baptism kind of spoke to me. Basically, it embodies what Christ's life and death and life were all about, killing the sinful side of us and recreating us as God's children. Another little kernel of wisdom.

I am mostly a humble man. I am humbled by my inability to do a great many things, it seems that any task I do, I do it mediocre at best. There is no cockiness or arrogance that can even be harbored within me. It's easy to come before God in prayer and acknowledge my weaknesses, and perpetuate this over-the-top humility. However, I am not this person I claim to be. Simply put, I have already been born again. What I do I do not do alone, there is no point in proceeding with the thought that I won't succeed.

There is no problem. There is only opportunity. The world, largely, is an illusion. It can be what you make of it, and I mean this in a metaphorical kind of sense, not literally. You can derive enjoyment on different levels, shallow levels or deeper levels. You can derive pain from it, whether you have plenty or have nothing. The difference is mind, the difference is control, and what we let have control over, and what we strain to gain control over.

People may always ponder why I overthink things. but I am not going to feel guilty for it. I love it, I love getting inside things, pondering them, theorizing about them. I don't mind if you throw that judgement at me.

Someone can spout something wise at you, that looks simple. You can hear it many times in your life but when the right person says it the right way it just clicks. So when I finally put it together, the christian life and the philosophy life, it started to make sense. Contentedness and Happiness in all things. One can spend their whole life searching for the perfect blossom, and it would not be a waste. The answer is they are all perfect.

There is no problem. You approach your opponent, there is no opponent, it is a play, when it expands, I contract, when I contract it expands. When we are done there is an outcome, and then things move along. I have already succeeded.

I think that there is a balance, like all things. One may have, and want, with the fulcrum being contentedness. the two are in harmony when they are balanced. We should not stop wanting, to better our situations, ourselves. There is no limit, only plateaus (i'm quoting a lot of bruce lee btw). Yet, i do not wish to be driven by this insatiable, inquisitve nature. What I have is sufficient. Who I am is sufficient. God's grace is sufficient. In lieu of that, the strong base, the ample resources, I can derive my energy to improve, myself and my environment.

All day I couldn't put this into words but now I feel I'm understanding it and able to verbalize it. I think people view me as a pseudo philosopher, maybe even a fake. Like I'm trying to sound smart. But i am not trying to do anything. I am only doing.

"Dreams are bad
when all they do is leave the world behind
Dreams are bad
When Negativity is a state of mind"
-Silverchair, Untitled

Hello. My name is Steven.

Ever experience a quiet so loud you wanted to scream just to fill the stagnate room? What I mean by this, that people that used to mean something to you, those relationships becoming nothing more then memories, to where you just want to cry that things return to what they once were? I have thought about Livejournal many times in that way. Our desires are not always a mirror of the effort we wish to exert.

So now you know. My heart yearns for you all to return with bright smiling faces, we can talk about Cowboy Bebop and be buddies again. I have tried this with other friends in life, and realized that it is much harder then it sounds. I feel unfair trying to relight a damp campfire, going to all the effort just to walk away when it's lit. thats not fair. But i suppose 2 willing hearts may be more likely, as compared to only 1.

I do not blame anyone but myself. Even though i am quite a presence on facebook and myspace, which I think I've given out before (if not just search my email (on my info page) or my name, steven vandre).

I will have another update later, with more stuff about me, but i want to end this entry with this:

I am trying to get in contact with Yoko Kanno and Tim Jensen. I have a silly dream that, believe me, I'm not getting my hopes up too high for, but I want to talk to them. If anything else to tell them they're great, and i want to work with them. Why me? Well, I have my reasons. But Tim Jensen (author of many bebop and gits:sac songs) is everything i have aspired to be as a poet.

I am unsure how I'll ever find his info. I know vaguely how to get ahold of kanno-sama, there is Grand Funk's snail mail address and grand funk's feedback email. I tried the former years ago, and the latter i tried recently. Tim Jensen is much more obscure on the internet outside of fandom. Anything official is hard to find, although it seems he's helped translate some japanese books.

Look, I still burn a torch for you guys. I know many of you don't care or may even not like me. and I have made peace with that, we make our decisions and many times grow apart from our friends. We'll have our memories right? If you ever want to try again remember I'm here, or there, or wherever.

Regards,

Steven Vandre

I will be attending otakon this year. Its this fri-sun. I will be going as iori from king of fighters and mugen from champloo. If you are going and wanna meet at the con let me know.

Well i promised a long time ago i'd upload pictures of japan. Thanks to LJ's new user friendly way of doing it, I will pull through with my promise!

Some of these are mine, some are my friend Preston's (his are the better ones >.>) I also made a slide-show video using one of my fave Rip Slyme songs, Tales (and i follow the "tales" theme in the slideshow. some lines are corny i warn you...)

lets see if I still remember how to cut.....

( Tokyo Nights! )

The End!! I hope the myspace image links work. If not i'll have to re-work it >:-( so if it doesn't work give me a sec to finish it. Leave comments please!

Edit: Images fixed. I guess i should put them up on photobucket so that i can upload the full pics and not the myspace thumbs. I am sorry for the inconvenience! better then nothing neh? but like i said the rest of the pics are on myspace.

Sorry for my cryptic last message.

The past couple years have been a struggle, as always, of my own doing. Some though, would be external.

In 2007 my cousin Jimmy died. He was 21. I am a living abomination of that incident, but not by my doing. He died of a car crash, falling asleep at the wheel. He had a girl, that would have been his fiance'. He was interested in fixing things and aspired to start his own garage. This kid had dreams, a future.

About a year ago, my mentor and close friend Denny died. He was....in his 50's. He had heart problems, most of which were hereditary. He was a bull headed man, a wise man, and a kind man. When he came to the end of his days, he was pushing himself very hard in the midst of medical complications at my fathers factory. This factory was where i toiled for many years, 5 to be exact, and in those years i came to know Denny. He always cared about me, and I also cared about him. In a detached musing, i wonder if I still worked at the heat treat, would he still be alive. Not that i put this on myself, but just a musing. Denny had a heart that was weak, but the metaphorical heart he had, was very strong, and big. His focus was young black men, that he saw promise in at the factory. He would impart his wisdom, hang out with them, befriend them. Some were in gangs, some were just pretending to be in gangs. He had good judge of character, but did too much for them, but i knew it was what he wanted. His heart did him in, the night he died my brother administered cpr and the ambulence came.

2 lives that, had I died in their stead, would continue to shine on and be fruitful. Denny believed in the youth, and I know he wouldn't want to live at my expense, but he would do so much good in the world if it had been me instead. And my cousin, he had direction. He had hope, dreams. These are all words foreign to me. I have despair, fear, uncertainty. I perpetuate my situation in mortal fear of my debts, in fear of the unknown. I wish I'd riden over to the factory to show Denny my bike like i meant to.

I've been trying to take my anti=depressants. I think of them as blinders, which is a double-edged sword. But the benefits outweight the other stuff.

But i've broken life down to a formula. Happiness = What we enjoy > the cost to enjoy it. Sadness = What we enjoy < the cost to enjoy it. When you have people, god, THINGS in your life that make it better, they are what you enjoy in life. We all have a cost of living and must maintain it. otherwise we do without some of those things. to do without too many things, and the cost doesn't justify it.

It's a cold and calculated way to view it. But i have no future, you see.

We all know the nursery rhyme. Go to school, go to college, get the job, get the girl/guy, get the house, get the promotion, retire at 60, see the world. Life is a constant barrage of things we do not like. We do not like having a mortgage, a car payment, student loans, working. But these are all things we must endure to justify our enjoyment of the minutes spent not doing the tedious.

But the key is in enjoying that which is tedious.

I have no future. For me to pretend to roll a dice and expect anything but snake eyes, when I have a dice stacked with 1's, is insanity. I am safe, but i will never gain. If i leave this cocoon, and gain 5 more numbers, i may roll a 7. and I may roll snake eyes again. I fear that. But, i guess a little fear is okay. But a healthy mind must consider that if I continue living as i am with no future, what right have I to be surprised when no future comes?

I know not what I want to do with my life. I have dreams of cushy jobs that require no work, as i'm sure many do, but the only thing that I know for certain is this: I must return to Japan. I MUST.

At the momment i'm considering the program that sends americans over to Japan to teach english. It could be the perfect fit. I wouldn't make money really, but when I think of japan, i don't think of having things. maybe a beer on the weekends or something.

When you picture your tranquil place, what do you ponder? My mind is so racked with anime that I cannot forget the romanticized Japan, and having seen it for myself, i know it to be true. I picture an open window, the curtains blowing. The sound of the cicada. The nice streets, maybe the click-clack of a train. How could it be that a world where everything is so strange to the way i've lived, seems so right?

Who would have thought, a life devoid of substance would yield..nothing.

Still alive.

Been a bit more active in my myspace. doing a little facebooking as well.

I'm not into the blogging scene so much. I really think people could care less, to be honest.

I got out of the family business, finally, and i work as a drafter (not what I went to college for). It's work, it's not bad. Since mid november, I think we've lost 24 to layoffs. pretty great. I could give a crap about the rest, but my best friend got laid off, and that made me all sorts of pissed. And (if you can indulge this brief demon I must exorcise) the fat c*** that is always standing around talking remains. ohhhh, the resentment I hold. her work, hardly rationalizes her remaining. And my best friend tried hella hard, and had a good attitude. Bitter? I sure am.

What else. Ah, Obama is to be our president. I voted for him. I didn't like either of them honestly, I know everyone else wants to hop on his d*** on the way to washington, and that's fine. I think we're screwed any way you look at it, and i certainly don't think this is the time to "spread the wealth". However, i couldn't think of a better catalyst for change, good or bad, then Obama, and the american people need that catalyst to awaken them from their complacent slumber. i'm a bit jaded....if you've not noticed.

OH! I did go to Japan. That was pretty f***ing amazing. I mean, it was EVERYTHING i expected and hoped for, i was not at all let down. Tokyo, Japan, we never really left the city. It's over 100 dollars to travel out of tokyo to any where decent (kyoto, osaka, sapporo etc) but apparently tourists can get a blue book for a flat low fee and travel all over. oops. I can talk more about it if anyone cares to know. and you can visit my myspace to check out the pictures, you don't need an account (i don't think). If you do need one, and don't want one but wanna see them, I'll figure something out.

I have a few goals. I wanna learn japanese. and I wanna get healthy, get into shape. those are in order btw. not sure how i'm gonna do the japanese thing, I got rosetta stoned but I'm not sure how to use it. that's right, I "got" it. wink. the 10 dollar best buy special software wasn't cutting it. it did help, but not enough for what I want to do.

Anyway, i wanna keep it manageable so people might read it. hit me up if you ever wanna talk, my email alerts are still on so I'll see when you guys message and stuff, and I am somewhat active on myspace if you wanna explore that option. peace.

Not sure if anybody is interested, but in the event you didn't know, I host an anime/jpop/jrock/jhop/videogame show called Otaku Happy Hour. I have to do it remotely now that I'm on second shift, but I take requests as long as it's before 4pm the day of the show (which would be wednesday). If you are interested, then proceed past the cut.
( Otaku Happy Hour! )

I have realized for a long time, my inner turmoil and strife is basic. It's elementary level. It's a mere grain of sand amongst the deserts of suffering that is wrought upon the world. Something so light and basic is something I should not be ashamed to share, something I should not hide from the people important to me.

When I was a lot younger, 12 years or so ago, I knew what it was to be accepted. I was in a group of friends, our love for each other, as much as kids can have for piers, was that of siblings, yet recognizably different. Between us in the group, we felt there was no judgement, no persecution. Sure, there were squables, arguments even. Sometimes it would get heated, especially between my friends Emily and David. But the next day we'd all be playing street hockey or hanging out on the sidewalk. I couldn't have asked for more. However, as I know many of you realize as well, the more we grow, the more we change. Our clothes, both metaphorically and physically, no longer fit, we put on new garments, new shoes, new lives. The same people we laughed with may not even be in the country anymore. The same haunts we loitered in are ghosts in the fog of our mind. We have put on a new self.

Perhaps, as they all loaded up in cars and drove off to their lives, I felt as if I had gone through an earth quake. A crevice appearing, sweeping out my feet beneath me and spiraling me down in a sea of confusion. My hand grasps out and holds on to the edge of an unfathomable drop. I keep hanging on for someone to save me. The words tumble out from my brain, pathetic, nausiating. People paste the words "Emo", "angsty" on my forehead and write me off without consideration. It's not that simple, and I would hope my friends, of all people, would take the time to understand at least that.

I use these metaphors to describe the seed of pain that lies beneath the surface. I'm a man in mind and body, I can move ahead regardless of what goes on around me. I won't be crushed by my demons, make no mistake. However, I must also be honest with myself and those I care about. People have experienced loss, my uncle and his family have experienced the loss of their only son, his age merely in his twenties. I don't even know the exact age, I believe 21. He endures this pain, as does his family, through many tears, many prayers, and the strenght of all of us in the family tree. And here I sit, basking in my loneliness despite the myriad of blessings I have before me. The fact of the matter is, I have never felt such connection as I did when I was 12. It's the love of nostalgia, the craving of a place you can never return to, to rejoin with a friend you have never known.

I am exhausted from searching. I want to give up on waiting. This is how I feel. To move and to feel productive feels better then anything, yet the first ounce of energy, that burst of intensity, is the hardest thing to get started, and even harder to start after such a long time. I think, believe, have faith in, what-have-you, that there is a soul mate in the world for everyone. It is selfish to think that we are so unique that not even one person out of the billions can understand our point of view with at least 90 percent accuracy. Can I prove it? No. Can you disprove it? No. Probability is on my side, friends. It stands to reason, then, that we may never meet our soul mate during the course of our lives. Or, you can even press the issue of probability further and say soul mates, making it plural. At this point my mind flies through possibility and thinks of all the scenarios that end up with me alone. A billion people? Pretty easy to miss y our soul mate in that amount of people. Pretty easy to forget the face that captured your heart instantly. A billion people, not even possible to meet them all, even if you met 1 person a second (editors note: It would actually take aproximately 31 and a half years to meet 1 billion people at a rate of 1 person a second, but we all know it's perposterous whether possible or impossible).

You may never meet that someone, you may end up settling, anything to fill that whole. I will not settle. I don't care if I'm alone forever, I will deal with this however I have to. Contentedness is not found in the arms of another, it's found in oneself. I am surrounded by a family that loves me, yet am I content? I must answer no, and thus I prove my point: A husband married to his soulmate may even feel this pain, because it is a pain that comes from one's self.

You know something? This society makes me think I deserve something. I'm entitled to it. I've been walking through life with nothing but unanswered questions expecting the world to answer them, because thats what I've been instilled with. And I must keep walking in darkness because the answers will NEVER come. Perhaps this darkness isn't so bad, eh? It could use some light, the light of truth. With every step we take we can get closer to that. And time, our shackles that we are led to believe are so precious, passes by while we wait and while we walk, if we keep walking and doing as we are, won't we be wasting the precious time we have? No, I say, our journey is not to a destination. Our Journey is one that should never end. We should never stop meeting people, never stop laughing and crying. Happiness? The destination? Bah, Happiness is something that should be in your backpack already, perhaps you should look deeper inside. Because, you see....

Most of the things we think we need, are within us already.

I wonder if lj-cutting is still in use with all these confounded changes. I'll try it out.

I made a new desktop/web background a while back, making it not so new, but I was kinda proud of it and wanted to share. I will post the stock photo as well. It's from an anime called Ergo Proxy, kind of a psychological suspense kind of anime (a lot like Texhnolyze, if you've seen that anime)

( lj cut? lets hope so! )

hope all is well...

been a while!

Hummmmmm

I'm a kinda/sorta supervisor on second shift at the factory. Has gone pretty well, a lot more stress but I'm handling it. Work and school is tough right now, but it's only till the end of this quarter. next quarter I am only taking 1 class. It'll be nice to recouperate.

November 17th is the day I'm gettin my PS3. I was second in line at my local gamestop, and I couldn't be more excited. I'm still worried about looming supply shortages. Also, a new stress riser in this matter is I have jury duty on the 16th. What if I get called? Worse yet, what if I have to stay over? WORSE YET!!! What if the case isn't solved by friday? EVEN WORSE! What if we are surquesturned?! Lordy lordy, I am going to die X_x

(breathes)

Been playin a lot of guild wars lately. Any of you play? add me, I'm usually on as Hellsing Lt Alucard or Grimn the Reaper

I am already home sick from being on second. I don't know how I will survive on my own when I move out. I feel pathetic.

Ummmm, not much else to report. I have had this major idea for a video editng project, an AMV specifically, but haven't done anything concrete yet. I should but I'm kinda waiting till my broadcast graphics class. We're gonna learn after affects.

peace out.

before I begin, I want to say I am sorry for not making this announcement earlier. I am now marrie...I mean, I am running a contest on sykoradio.net (you know, where I do that Jpop DJ gig?). It's pretty cool if you like Kingdom Hearts 2. I ask a question or questions each week (however, this next wednesday is the last week) and people can email me the answer, first correct answer or most correct answer (if it gets down to it) wins.

If you are interested, please add my myspace account (my DJ one, feel free to add my personal one too if you like :-D):

cowboysoultaker @gmail.com (remove the space before the @ sign)

I'm gonna post week2's question sometime tomorrow as a bulletin to give people a chance to answer it. Normally its announced during the show but since nobody participates I try to give everyone an extra chance.

The prize is a Kingdom Hearts 2 wall scroll. I'm offering 2 up for the winner's pick. Also I'm gonna throw in a cool T-shirt and a "best of otaku happy hour" CD. It's not much but it's pretty cool, and it's free, right?

anyway....

( onto the other stuff )

so what's up? What'd I miss?

I was looking for GitS:SAC 2nd Gig vol. 5 (which I later found out comes out NEXT tuesday) and I found this nifty box on the lower shelf at best buy.

It was a funky box, light grey and very eye catching. It had characters in really fun poses and they seemed to be happy, so I thought, "This will be a fun anime! looks like FLCL, so I think I'll get it!" I took a chance and bought it. I opened it up when I got in the car (since it had an OST in it) and looked at the back of the DVD and saw a mecha on the back. I wanted to cry. NOT ANOTHER MECHA!!!! I thought about stratos or even (gasp) Burst Angel! I popped the CD and heard a couple good tracks right off the bat, then it went into orchestral stuff and I knew it was gonna be a drama. AH CRAP! Well, I wringed my hands all the way home and I had to make sure, so I popped in the DVD and watched episode 1.

"An ordinary kid in an ordinary town. Nothing ever happens here." Sound familiar? This is the kid's opening line (which happens after the first scene) and sounding very much like Naota's first remarks in FLCL. 14 years old....okay, whatever. A few cliche's I winced at, such as the stereotypical TERRIBLY scripted conservative relative (Come one, let's be fair to conservative parents for just one anime, I mean seriously) but, perhaps thats a japanese thing. Who knows. So grandpa says don't follow your dreams, you'll wind up dead blah blah.

Well, the anime is good. Quite good, actually. although cliche' in parts it's nice to see a budding romance thats straightforward for a change. The characters are fairly interesting too.

Having seen as much anime as I have, it's hard NOT to see little influences here and there. The FLCL style is in there with some of the "funkier" mechanics to the show (mecha on surfboards? c'mon). The NGE style "output meters" (I think everyone's borrowed that), the stereotypical boy-konks-out-and-kicks-major-ass routine. But the story has some twists that you don't know what they'll be but there is enough lack of info that you know there will be something of some sorts down the road. AND it's interesting enough to generate suspense.

I have watched 2 episodes and I'd rate this anime a 7/10 so far. Unlike most T.V., anime is defined by it's beginning, the rising action, and the end. Exceptions to this would be anime like Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop, which are more like episodes rather than chapters in a grand story. The beginning to an anime can tell a lot about how the characters will act. Sometimes you can be turned off right from the get go. The rising action is usually where all the really weird plot twists and what-not happen, so that can turn people off to. And the ending can sometimes be TERRRRRRRRRRRRRRIBLE. I won't name names here, but I have had my share of disappointing endings.

So we'll see how Eureka Seven (BTW, thats the name of the anime, sorry I didn't mention it earlier) fares as the series progresses.


BTW-----seperate rant here---------

Has anyone else been slightly disappointed in the output of anime recently? It's almost like they're gauging their success now and making more anime like the ones that are successful. the "tragic female gunman" angle seems to be in use quite a bit lately. I see box art for Madlax and if you squint your eyes you'd swear it was Noir. I'm not saying it is just like it but why would you put a DVD out that has box art almost identical to something found in your previous work...beats me.

I'm just venting because I'm seeing less and less innovation like I was used to before. Anime like Soultaker, Cowboy Bebop, Champloo, Trigun, TExhnolyze, Rahxephon, Elfen Lied, Gungrave, Gantz, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Azumanga Daioh, Cromartie High School, Excel Saga....etc, etc

Could it bet that anime is running out of stories?

My BIGGEST gripe in anime is the dragging on of Saiyuki AND the abomination that is Burst Angel. Kiddy Grade and Burst Angel are anime's that I cannot understand their success. Kiddy Grade is halfway decent, because the ending makes up for it. But Burst Angel is terrible all around, in my opinion. I love Saiyuki but they're entering their 4th season in the U.S. and they STILL aren't any closer to the west then when they started! (sigh)

The only series (up till the time I bought Eureka Seven) that I've been buying is GitS:SAC. I've thought about picking up Samurai 7...but as a collector, I have to get the collectors edition...and each one is 50 bucks a pop...so I can't afford it.

So what's the answer? I guess the answer is wait for another Shinichiro Watanabe anime to come out. IS he working on anything, by-the-by?

Aight, thats more text then anybody should be expected to stare at, I'm outta here. peace.

Some of you might remember reading my entry bringing the attention to an up-and-coming anime called Karas. I got my copy today and made time even though it's way late to watch it and I'm glad I did.

This anime is so amazing, it's a shame it had to be released up against Advent Children. I know DVD sales can be different than movie premieres but all the same I think Advent Children will outshine this diamond in the rough.

Let me elaborate. Advent Children is a great movie in every respect, however it lacks a driving punch. It doesn't have the deep storyline to make it really spectacular. Karas is an OAV series that will be released in 6 episodes (the first DVD is one episode, apx 80 minutes long). And while the DVD box will tell you it's like Batman Begins, really it isn't. And I'm glad.

When you hear "stylization" you think cliche's and goofyness, or well, maybe I'm putting words in your mouth. Regardless, I think stylized is something that people are too afraid to go all out in. Animes like Burst Angel (Bakuretsu Tenshi) and some others that only break the surface but are somewhat stylized don't really do it justice. Karas just is not goofy at all, the counting and the "Sway to and fro, sway" just seems to fit nicely. The cameras, the story telling, everything about this anime is what I liked about the Soultaker. It's everything I'd forgotten about in anime, the suspense and action, with a little bit of horror mixed in. While not for the faint of heart, this gem is most definitely worth your money at 15 bucks a pop (which is what the advertised price for it is at best buy...or at least was). DVD 1 has a cliffhanger that will leave you breathless and you'll die once you realize DVD 2 doesn't come out till September.

Really, it's a steal at 15 bucks. I wasn't too sure if I wanted to watch the Dub but I did anyway at it was well done. I'm starting to loathe female voice actors...and (gasp) steven blume. Steven Blume as Zabuza was really pushing it, but steven blume as Vincent Valentine? Come on now. But I digress. Female voice acting was nice, so I don't know where I was going with that point.

Anyway, if you haven't gleaned this from what I've stated, I will put it plainly in text. Buy this anime. I know you'll be hooked. If you don't like gore or blood, of course, stay far away, but if thats cool with you go for it!

I've checked this out...it sounds and looks really promising.



PRESS RELEASE

MANGA ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES CAST FOR “KARAS”

Chicago, IL - Manga Entertainment announced today that Hollywood actors, Jay Hernandez, Matthew Lillard and Piper Perabo will be the cast of the new Japanese animated DVD production “Karas.”

Karas will be released in two volumes, with both English and Japanese tracks. Karas: The Prophecy arriving on April 25 th and Karas: The Revelation releasing later in 2006. Karas is the 40 th Anniversary animation production by the renowned Japanese animation studio Tatsunoko Productions, who produced the original Speed Racer television shows and anime favorite Gatchaman. Karas is an innovative hybrid production of 2D/3D animation and has the 6.1 Surround Sound and soundtrack from the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra .

Karas , (The Crow) is best described as Batman with a Samurai Sword or a Cyber-punk version of The Crow. Karas takes place in Tokyo , a city populated by both humans and ghostly beings. They exist in two dimensions; seen and unseen- spirits, apparitions and demons. Karas is the city's guardian, and Tokyo is thrown into disarray as a former Karas named Eko attempts to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. An entity named Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in Eko's way with her newly risen Karas. Now two Karas emerge to destroy either all of the demons or destroy all humanity. Which Karas will prevail?

Jay Hernandez will voice the role of Nue, a mystical creature in human form sent to Shinjuku , Japan to defeat Eko. A rising young talent, Hernandez appears in Quentin Tarantino's newly presented horror film, Hostel portraying the role of Paxton . Jay will appear in the upcoming Oliver Stone feature “ World Trade Center ” this August co-starring with Nicolas Cage . Hernandez also appeared as Brian Chavez in Friday Night Lights , and also co-starred with Kirsten Dunst in the teen romance Crazy/Beautiful as Carlos Nunez.

Matthew Lillard is the voice of Eko, the man who was chosen as a KARAS in the past. Eko realized how to seize power in this world by upsetting the balance between the evil spirits and humans, and has resurfaced to destroy all of humanity. Lillard appeared as the creepy Stuart in Scream, co-starred with Angelina Jolie as the computer genius named “Cereal Killer” in Hackers, and most recently the role of Shaggy in Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed also starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr.

Piper Perabo is cast as the voice of Yurine, a young priestess who fired Eko as the Karas during the Edo period and is the one who chooses all the Karas.' Perabo starred as Nora Baker in Cheaper by the Dozen (1 & 2), Violet Sanford in Coyote Ugly and has just signed on with director Christopher Nolan ( Memento and Batman Begins ) for an upcoming film Prestige , co-starring Scarlett Johansson, Michael Cain, Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman and David Bowie.

Manga Entertainment, known for being the first anime distributor in America to release Japanese anime into major movie theatres across the country has successfully influenced Hollywood filmmakers with their high-quality Japanese animated releases. Now, for the first time, the company is working with Hollywood actors to bring amazing anime to a new generation of fans and to new audiences.

Several of Manga's acclaimed releases, such as "Ghost in the Shell," "Perfect Blue" and "Blood: The Last Vampire" have become embedded in American pop-culture.

Manga Entertainment Inc. specializes in the production and distribution of Japanese animation for theatrical, DVD and home video release worldwide. Manga's cutting-edge film collection also features Asian live-action, cult, pop-culture and international animation. The Manga film library is marketed and distributed in the U.S. through Anchor Bay Entertainment. Manga is headquartered in Chicago and has offices in London and Tokyo . www.manga.com

Manga Entertainment is an Anchor Bay Entertainment Company . Anchor Bay Entertainment is a recognized name in home entertainment. The company offers an expansive selection of award-winning, notable theatrical films including “Time Bandits” and “Halloween,” classic television programming such as “Roseanne,” “3 rd Rock from the Sun,” “Three's Company,” “Highlander” and much of the Stephen J. Cannell library, traditional children's fare featuring the ever-popular Thomas & Friends collection and Mister Rogers Neighborhood, the impressive Manga anime line and chart-topping fitness titles including the "Crunch" and "For Dummies" series. Anchor Bay Entertainment is aggressively developing a wide range of original programs and concepts in addition to licensing existing brands and films.

Anchor Bay Entertainment is a subsidiary of IDT Entertainment. IDT Entertainment is a vertically integrated entertainment company that develops, produces, and distributes proprietary and licensed entertainment content. IDT Entertainment is a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE:IDT, IDT.C), an international telecom, entertainment, and technology company.

# # #

A man was down and out

On the streets

His heart beat fast

Not a penny to spend

On food or gas



Then a man in the know

Looked deep into his eyes

Slapped hands with him and held it firm

He said “This too shall pass”

He looked inside his hand

There it was, a beautiful fifty dollar bill



And don’t it seem

That if we just hold a little bit more

Little bit more

Life’s gonna have a way of workin itself out

Iron it out, not one more wrinkle

The bumps evidence of the imperfection

That makes the character of our life



Then a man just couldn’t hold on

Ritual life come beating him down

It was work and work

No respect and no love

All he wanted was that one girl

And he could hold on forever



And he just kept goin, wonderin’ what came next

In the story of his life

The girl, the money

But he couldn’t get happy

Just shufflin his feet, movin along



You know there’s gotta be more to this life

Cause everybody else is just movin on

You get to feelin like the only one who sees

The nature of this life isn’t what it seems

But you got to realize one thing

This fire is burning you now

You’re reaching melting point

And when you’re pulled from the fire

You feel the hammer blows

Pounding on your back

Attack after attack



You wonder why is it you

When everyone is smiles

You see a dull blade in their eyes

Another strike

Look inside on the other side

See the edge start to form on your soul

Forged in high heat

Quenched in ice cold brine

Never got a break but it starts to show

The strength of the sword

And that sharp edge



When it seems like your life

Is like a curse

Step up and take a look

Far into the future

Know what you wanna change

Brand it on your heart

One day you’ll have the power to change it

Make it better



So hold on to your soul

Your mind and your heart

Cause the world wants to rip it from you

The wealth, possessions are just a lie

There’s something higher there

And you gotta find it

I just got done watching the baseball episode of Samurai Champloo, and if I'm not mistaken, isn't the appearance of the U.S. navy an anachronism? SC is in 1675, so I guess it would be. I'm not sure, but I would make a guess that Baseball too is an anachronism.

Hmmm, worthless musing, but at least I knew that much, eh? I was going to post a bit more ambiguously but I did my research and was able to solve my question before I even asked it.

I just got done with DVD 6 and DVD 7 should be tomorrow. I've been getting behind in my anime.

Purchased the Champloo soundtrack and L'Arc~en~Ciel's album "Smile". So far I really like Smile.

I was very upset when I discovered that Gantz the anime stopped following the Manga. I scanned one of the later DVD's to see if a particular scene was in there (ahem) and was shocked to find a completely different picture from what should've been happening.

I am sure that it will have a fairly decent ending, but the manga is far superior.

Ummm...I'm a dork.